The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-22

"a {. & q +. 3 Z, {, : /: &,
I! j !. !!.!s!:!!.!!:!! !! DENVER
- k1llEse II his csuntry,s
3 ~ Z d Rhlis affair. snd
t1peo bG ~ |nst III the wealth
: sss;;.ss ssS :s Z ;.sssi9s Ssss :; sss,1 sss%
ioneo46Hgs 49, uaa1oy md prices Of
peodlee 80 - ~ - - oler no relief
exosFt tlRoogh 6o1h1lbtsy. Laborers
- aln1dn0 ~ 0ssoos nd greater de-
peude4ea etRif1o ~ .seeorted 70 with
90 relisf, beoa11b q w. Inability Of en-
p!eyas r nanV soioo - pay living wages,
vhils mose and ~ driven into the
strestR. Dus1noS - ma collections al
NOT impousihaDy nanitims hundreds of
millions Of tdle Ppblie money which is
nsedsd f6s relI8 = loeked up in the
U1ibefo otstss nsGnyy inygrim mockery
Of TIE dibtregs; lap4 monopoly fourishes
- never kxoGa ttfote, and more and
more ovn&s Of ~ soil are daily becom-
ing tenants, Great tyaneportation corpo-
Hs$i0nS still sdecesd n extorting their
profits upon vatsFed stoek through unjust
charges. The United States senate has
become an open scandal, its seats being
purshassd BY Iths Rieh IN open defiance Of
the popular vim. tEiding fisheries dis
puts i seized upon - an excuse for nee
essary military preparations which are
designed 70 breed Z spirit Of war, to ape
European desPotism. and to empty the
treasury without paying the public debt.
Under these and other alarming condi-
tions We appeal 10 the people Of the
whole country 10 come out of the old
party organisations, where indifference
TO the public welfare is responsible for
this distrsss, and hSlp % TO organize a
new political party, not sectional but ma
tional, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be to re-
peal all class laws in favor Of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
by establishing the following principles:
l. Land-Every human being possesses
natural, inalienable right to sufficient
land for self support, and We desire to Sc
cure to ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result Of free institutions. To
this end we desire q graduated land tax
on all land estates, especially those held
for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
claimati0n Of all unearned land grants;
the immediate opening of Oklahoma to
homestead settlement; the purchase of
all unoccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement Of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
acquiring real estate beyond the requir-
ments of their business, and alien owner
ship Of land. Thesystem Of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
.. Transportation-Th means of com
munication or transportation should be
controlled by the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
8. Money-The establishment of ma
tional monetary system in the interest of
the producer instead Of the speculator
and usurer by which circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der, shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the Intervention of banks, or
loaned to citizens upon ample security at
a low rate of interest to relieve them from
the extortions of usury and enable them
to control the money supply. Postal saw
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage of gold, we should
have free coinage of silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt,
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the national gov
eminent, or by states, territories, counties
or municipalities.
4. Decentralization should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
Ods of settling labor disputes; the letting of
convict labor to contractors be prohibited;
the contract system be abolished in pub
lie works; the hours of labor in industrial
establishments be reduced commensurate
with the increase of production in labor
saving machinery; employees to be pro-
tected from bodily injury; equal pay be-
ing given for equal work for both sexes,
and labor, agricultural and cooperative
associations be favored and incorporated
by law. The foundation of republic is
tuo iutoAiSouCo VI Ato cAtincuo, duu cHu
dren who are driven into workshops,
mines and factories are deprived of edu-
cation which should be secured by proper
legislation. We desire to see labor organ
izations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible for
despots to array the vorkingmen of one
country in war against their brothers of
another country.
8. Soldiers and 6ailors-In apprecia-
tion of the services of United States SOL
diers and sailors We demand for them JUS
tice before charity. The purposely de-
preciated money paid them during the
war should be made equal in value to the
gold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised gold or its equivalent and
was paid in deprecated paper. The bond
holder loaned the government deprecated
paper and contracted to take it back, but
was paid in gold. .ili
6. Income Taxa graduated income
is the most equitable system of taxation,
placing the burden Of government on
those who can best afford to pay, instead
of laying il on the farmers and producers,
and exempting millionaire bondholders
and corporations.
Z. United States Senate-The capture
Of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools of corporations who
have no sympathy with free institutions,
threatens the very existence Of the repub-
lie. We demand q constitutional amend
ment making United States senators elect
i've bv A direct vote of the poOple.